Velocar
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cycle manufacturing, Microcars |
| Founded | 1930s |
| Headquarters | Puteaux , France |
| Products | Velocar velomobiles, recumbent bicycles, microcars ("Sans Permis") |
Velocar was the name given to the velomobiles created during the 1930s and 1940s by Mochet et Cie, a company located in Puteaux, France. The term also applied to their range of recumbent bicycles.
Mochet pioneered lightweight cyclecars powered by small engines (known as Le P'tit Auto) alongside pedal-driven quadricycles. These vehicles were predominantly two-seat models featuring tubular steel frames, wheels comparable in size to bicycles, multi-speed gearing systems, and streamlined bodies—essentially enclosed "sociables." While demand diminished in the late 1930s due to the introduction of more affordable automobiles, interest revived during World War II as fuel shortages made petrol-powered vehicles less accessible.
A significant advancement by Mochet was the creation of the first performance-oriented recumbent bicycle, called vélo couché, which originated from half of his four-wheeled Velocar design. Marketed under names like "Velo-Velocar" or "V-V," this bicycle established several world cycling records in 1933. Although initially sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), recumbents were subsequently prohibited by the UCI—likely influenced by manufacturers of traditional upright bicycles. Furthermore, Mochet’s rider, Francis Faure, was classified as a second-category cyclist, defying informal conventions that typically reserved such feats for elite athletes. Some competitions persisted under the UVF’s governance.
From 1933 through 1945, limited production runs of both road and track recumbents were manufactured, including a streamlined 1935 variant named the "Velorizontal." Despite continued record-breaking attempts outside official UCI events, enthusiasm declined after the war; the last Mochet recumbent model was the 1940 "Vélorizontal." By 2011, around 35 Mochet recumbents remained preserved within museums and private collections.
The Mochet design experienced a revival in California during the late 1970s, which led to substantial growth in recumbent bicycle development across the United States throughout the 1980s.
Charles Mochet passed away unexpectedly in 1934 following the UCI ban. His widow and son Georges carried on the business. After World War II, Georges concentrated on producing powered microcars classified under the "Sans Permis" category from 1945 until 1957. Georges Mochet died in 2008.
See also
References
- 'Mochet: Minimalisme sur roues' Hermann Bruning, Editions Cépadues, Toulouse, 2000.
- 'Bicycle of the Future, The Cycles of the Rue Roque de Fillol.' Bob Cordon Champ, The Boneshaker (Journal of the Veteran-Cycle Club) 2004.
- Best History of the Recumbent – Why it’s Faster & How it Came to be Banned, National Bicycle Greenway, June 30, 2013.
External links
- Mochet.org (archived March 25, 2022)
- VELOCAR ROAD RACING IN THE 1930s by Arnfried Schmitz
- Current velomobiles in North America